Week O' Camping!

Summer is in full swing around here! We had a really nice Fourth of July swimming at a friend's pool, eating lots of grilled meats and potato chips and desserts (and drinking frozen gin and tonics for me and Tim. The kids got Gatorades, which they like just as much as I like gin.) At the end of the night, we did sparklers and set off some small fireworks in the culdesac, and then the kids were asleep in their car seats before we got home. Most of the long weekend was us staying up too late with friends and all taking power naps during the day so that we could gear up for another evening of fun.

We also bought a trampoline for the back yard, and Tim and I put it together (and then half took it apart to move it across the lawn) without even wanting to dissolve our marriage! And the kids haven't concussed themselves yet!

Ellie and I ended our long weekend doing goat yoga with some friends. Ellie was into the goats, not into the yoga, and DEFINITELY not about them trying to stand on her.

This week both kids have been in different camps. Ellie has been going to the Pacific Marine Mammal Center in Laguna Beach, which rehabilitates marine mammals (hence the name.) The kids get to spend a week learning about the animals, how they're cared for, and about the importance of ocean conservation. They made fish smoothies for harbor seals (in the Bass-o-matic) and cleaned out the enclosures, they dissected a sea urchin, and they worked in groups to design a device to help clean up ocean trash. They did not actually get to touch the harbor seals or elephant seals, because they're wild animals that they want to release back into the ocean, but they did each get to work learning about one animal. Ellie's was a harbor seal named Guinness.

He's the cute blob in the middle.

Today they all went down to the beach, and she reported that they saw a seal and a couple of dolphins. She really had a good time, since it was all about animals and science.

Meanwhile, Adam has been in afternoon camp at the YMCA. It's dinosaur themed, so they usually do a dino related craft, in addition to water balloons, a lot of out door play, and having the occasional sno-cone. It's nothing too intense but it gets him out of my hair and also reminds him that he has to listen to adults other than me. It's been nice that they have their camps at different times, because then I get some alone time with each one of them (we took our gift cards from the gift bags Mimi made for Jake's birthday party and went to Starbucks) and they get some time without their sibling, which has helped with their urges to annoy the hell out of one another (and me.)

Next week they don't have any formal activities, so we are setting up fun things to do with friends. We've been keeping on a good schedule every day, which helps everyone's sanity (mostly mine) and it's nice that they're big enough to entertain themselves so that I can get some work done (that's right YouTube, you babysit those kids for me!)

Summer Fun.

We've been taking it easy around here, now that we've made it back home and summer vacation has officially started. I'm trying to keep us all on a good routine of getting out in the sunshine, moving our bodies, having some reading time every day and practicing the piano, along with letting the kids play Minecraft and rot their brains as they so desire. And we're trying to do fun stuff when we can. The kids and I made a list of stuff we'd like to do as "special treats" and we're trying to check them off as we go.

Saturday night Ellie, Lexi, Kristen and I went up to LA to see Harry Potter the Order of the Phoenix at the Hollywood Bowl. The Bowl orchestra performs the score live to the movie, and it was awesome! Lots of people in costume, including a whole group dressed up with Voldemort, Umbridge, Lockhart, Mad Eye Moody. They let the girls take pictures with them, and then gave them "I must not tell lies" temporary tattoos. Very cool! The girls loved it, though were exhausted by the time we made it back to the car.

Meanwhile, the boys went and played nine holes.

One of the things they wanted to do was visit an American Ninja Warrior-style gym, so we did that on Monday. They have open gym for an hour in between classes every day, which worked out perfectly for us. The kids had a mostly good time - some tears about slips and falls and not being able to do everything at the gym, and I had a couple of heart attacks watching them climb and jump around above my head, but we might do it again. Ellie REALLY loved the aerial silks.

Adam's lack of gymnastic training did not help him on the silks.

But he did enjoy the running and climbing portions

Yesterday for lunch we did a picnic in the park. Invited a ton of friends, but only one other mom was able to make it (much to the kids' chagrin. Look folks, I sent out a solid dozen text messages, people have stuff going on!) Adam and I walked over to the kinder-garden to check on the remaining sunflowers and cut ourselves an ENORMOUS bouquet. We also watered the remaining stalks, so should have a second huge crop to bring home and let Taco gnaw on.

The other thing we've been doing this week is getting back into swim lessons with Coach Grant. The kids had a lesson on Saturday morning, and then we're doing lessons Monday, Tuesday and today in the afternoons, as a kind of bootcamp. It's nice because while one kid is with Grant, I can swim with the other one, and then by the time lessons are over we have about 10 minutes before they blow the whistle for safety break and everyone has to get out. It's amazing though, how exhausted the kids are by that hour of swimming. I mean, I get it, it's late in the day and they love being in the deep end so they are actually swimming the entire time, not just bouncing around where they can touch. Adam asked to take the swim test yesterday so that he could get a green wrist band (which is how the Y designates that your kid is sea worthy enough to be out of arm's reach.) He had to do the crawl stroke for the length of the pool without stopping or rolling to his back, then climb out on the wall, jump back in, tread water for 30 seconds, and float on his back for 30 seconds. He passed! He's thrilled, and I am very proud of him, as well as being thrilled because sometimes I don't want to be in arms reach of him, especially when he's being a real splashy maniac. Also is a credit to Grant, who pointed out that it wasn't that long ago that he had Adam and Tim in the parent and me classes, and now here he is, swimmy fish boy, and his sister, Mermaid Girl.

End of the Year/Start of the Summer

Well, this blog is very out of date. Much like the concept of blogs themselves, I suppose.

The kids finished kindergarten and third grade on June 13th, and we celebrated by going to have a bunch of ice cream with friends, and then leaving on Saturday for Wisconsin.

We've been so lucky to have such a great year. Wonderful teachers, wonderful friends, and a great school community. Plus Ms. Kantor is teaching first grade again next year, so maybe she'll go Fords For Four next year!

The travel out to Chicago was easy peasy, and then we spent Father's Day out at John's lake place again, which was awesome. Saw many geese on their way to goose brunch, and then Ellie and I both water skied!

What is there to say about Door County? We ate a lot of cheese curds and goat milk gelator, we drank a lot of Old Fashioneds, we had a great time watching the ten kids twelve and under run around the yard and the various parks like a pack of wild animals. We saw a lot of beautiful sunsets, I spent a lot of time laughing until I was crying.

And each year is more fun with the kids. I love that I'm in a place where I made so many happy childhood memories, watching them make similar memories. Adam kept commenting on how gorgeous everything was, and Ellie pointed out how we had done things last year or the year before.

Then Adam spent the entire day that we were traveling home vomiting if we gave him more than a sip of water, so that was great! But he was a good little trooper - still happy to pull his own suitcase through the airport and then spent almost the entire drive and flight sleeping. Then woke up at 6:30 on Monday morning right as rain, wondering if we would make him some breakfast. So, now he's 3 for 3 on puking on a vacation, so he's no longer a part of the family. But as you can see, his last trip with us was a lovely one!

Grand Old Flag.

Last Friday the second graders at school did their American Symbols On Parade play, and it was super cute. They talked about the various American symbols and monuments, sang some songs, did some dancing. One of the best things is that in second grade (almost third, loud sobbing noise) is that they are able to deliver lines and act a little. They got a lot of jokes, and knew how to ham it up for reaction.

Ellie played the part of Rose, sharing it with a few other girls (there were several Roses, and several Uncle Sams.) She was SO darling. Please see video evidence.

Medicare for Mimi!

What a nice weekend celebrating Mimi's birthday! (and other hanging out, sleeping in, and regular weekend activities around here.)

On Friday night, Mimi, Ellie and Chris and Carly went on a grandmother and granddaughter trip to the theater to see Charlie and the Chocolate Factory at Segerstrom. Adam and I got to crash their dinner at Ruby's as part of the drop off, but the show was all ladies - they had a blast!

And then on Sunday we went out to Yorba Linda and watched Jake made dinner for all of us, while we celebrated loudly and proudly.

Toofs

Another milestone passed in our house - my last baby lost his first tooth! I was unprepared for this event to make me have feelings, but it's weird to think that it's the end of their baby faces. And now that the tooth fairy has to start coming up with cash for the very same teeth that made our lives miserable on their way (this is a racket.) Anyhow - he's had a wiggly tooth for awhile, and then wrenched it out right before going into his classroom yesterday morning, so I got to walk home holding a human tooth in my hand.

We were over at a friend's house until fairly late last night and this morning when I got back from the Y, he was still sleeping! Thank goodness tball was rained out, because he slept in until 10am! I did go check on him at 9 to make sure he was still alive, because this is out of character for him. Then when he did wake up, there was much crying from his room and lamenting that the tooth fairy didn't leave him anything. There was a moment of panic where I thought maybe the tooth fairy DID forget, as it had been a late night, but I also remembered the tooth fairy very distinctly sneaking into his room with baited breath. Adam, in a very un-Howard-like fashion, did not realize that the gold dollar under his pillow was his prize, worth one American dollar. He feels much better now that he's fully awake, and also rich.

Memorial Day Weekend!

As usual, we managed to pack in a ton of fun!

Friday night I took Ellie up to LA to see Ben Platt at the Dolby Theather for baby's first concert. Ben Platt was the original Evan Hansen in Dear Evan Hansen on Broadway and has been in a couple of movies, and recently released an album of original songs. I downloaded it, and we were listening to it in the car until it became her FAVORITE. As in, I finally had to tell her, I have listened to this album now 100 times on repeat, it's time to take a break. For me, going to see an artist I like performing an album I love is one of my favorite pleasures in life, and so when tickets went on sale, I bought two for us and hoped for the best. 

It took us 2.5 hours to get to Hollywood, and we parked almost a mile from the theater because my LA geography is not what it once was, but I knew that $10 for parking was less than we'd pay at Hollywood and Highland, where the Dolby Theater is located. Good news, she enjoyed the Walk of Fame. 

Please note, I did not buy the VIP experience. I'm indulgent, but not a total idiot.

Our tickets were basically up in the nosebleeds, but the view was great and the acoustics were awesome. Ben Platt put on a wonderful show, and Ellie was SO happy, singing and dancing along.

And we got home without being accosted on the street, or me falling asleep behind the wheel. Success all the ways around

Saturday, I went to goat yoga!

This is the same baby goat that Ellie met and loved when we were at the goat farm with our cousins around spring break, now 10 weeks old and quite a load. I went with two girlfriends and we did a lot more giggling and goat petting than actual yoga (which is fine, I don't care for yoga anyways.)

We spent most of the rest of the weekend swimming in our friends' pools, because we are lucky ducks. Sunday was Juddy-Buddy's birthday pool party, and Monday we kept the party going at Mike and Nicole's house. Sunday was rainy but the kids still had fun, and Monday was sunny and beautiful, the perfect long weekend afternoon. 

Lots of cheeseburgers, chips and dips consumed, lots of time with friends. On Monday Adam was in the pool from 11am - 6pm with only a short break for lunch. Needless to say, we've been putting them to bed early this week and having to wake them up in the morning. They have two more weeks of school after this, and while I'm ready for all the pool partying, I don't know that I'm ready for the rest of it. It feels like the month, and school year, has flown by!